Attractive pictures of food can nudge teens to make healthy choices, says NIN study

The study showed that teens identified color, texture, appearance, shape, gloss, balance, etc. as factors that make food images more appealing and memorable. | Photo credit: Representative photo

Can a tantalizing image of a healthy snack convince teens to try it? A new study by scientists at the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) suggests that it can. It found that visually appealing presentations of healthy foods can significantly increase adolescents’ willingness to consume them, highlighting a potential new strategy for nutrition communication in the digital age.

The researchers first created a set of 150 images that contained both healthy and unhealthy foods. These images were pre-tested among 43 school-aged adolescents, whose ratings helped select 15 final images for the study. Images of healthy eating included fruits, millets, legumes, dairy products, nuts and seeds, presented either in a simple format or in an enhanced, visually appealing style designed for maximum appeal.

The selected images were then shared on Instagram with 203 teenagers aged 13 to 19 from across India over a 15-day period. Participants viewed three categories of food images: visually appealing unhealthy foods, healthy foods presented in an attractive style, and healthy foods presented in a simple manner. Some participants were also provided with brief nutritional information along with the pictures.

The findings revealed a strong link between visual appeal and willingness to consume a food. Attractive presentations of healthy foods, especially millet porridge and “chana” salad, generated significantly more interest than their more clearly presented counterparts.

In-depth interviews with 19 participants revealed that teens identified color, texture, presentation, shape, gloss, balance, etc. as factors that make food images more appealing and memorable. One teenager noted that healthy food is often perceived as ‘boring’, so it’s important to present it in a tasty way.

SubbaRao M. Gavaravarapu, who led the research team, said that visually appealing presentations influence how teenagers imagine eating healthy foods. While simply presented meals are primarily associated with home cooking, attractively presented meals are more often associated with restaurants and social gatherings with friends.

Some participants reported trying foods they previously disliked, increasing fruit and legume intake, and experimenting with cooking and food presentation at home. Interestingly, adding nutritional descriptions to Instagram posts had little effect. The interviews revealed that teenagers paid much more attention to images than accompanying text, underscoring the power of visual communication on social media.

Although the researchers cautioned that the short-term study could not demonstrate lasting behavior change, ICMR-NIN director Bharati Kulkarni said the findings point to the potential of visually appealing healthy food content as a nutrition promotion strategy. Such approaches could be explored in social media campaigns, school canteens, cafes and restaurants, although larger and longer-term studies are needed to assess their impact on eating habits.

The study, titled “Foodporn for e-Priming Healthy Food Choices Between Adolescents: An Experimental Study Using Appealing Food Imagery,” was published in the journal “BMC Public Health,” a report said Tuesday.

Published – 22 Sep 2026 19:33 IST